CdS/CdSe co-sensitized hierarchical nanosheet-constructed NiO microballs for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells

Hierarchical-nanosheet-constructed NiO microspheres were prepared by a hydrothermal method using hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as the surfactant. NiO films prepared with Nil) microballs were first co-sensitized with CdS and CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and then introduced into QD-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) as photoanodes. The optimized photoelectric conversion efficiency was 1.40%, with an open-circuit voltage (V-OC) of 0.544 V, short-circuit current (J(SC)) of 4.34 mA cm(-2), and a fill factor (FF) of 0.59. From the results obtained, Ni0 films demonstrate potential as photoanode materials for QDSCs.